{"id":1241,"date":"2016-03-01T11:53:49","date_gmt":"2016-03-01T10:53:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onlineprinters.ie\/magazine\/?p=1241"},"modified":"2025-05-19T12:16:54","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T10:16:54","slug":"export-print-ready-pdfs-indesign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onlineprinters.ie\/magazine\/export-print-ready-pdfs-indesign\/","title":{"rendered":"Ctrl + E: Exporting print-ready PDFs with InDesign"},"content":{"rendered":"

When an online print shop asks you to supply “print-ready PDF files”, chances are you don’t have a clue what they are talking about. That’s not surprising since not everyone is fluent in print language. In this short tutorial, we will demonstrate the PDF export process in Adobe InDesign.<\/p>\n

Put simply, print-ready means that the print shop is able to process your data in a way that guarantees a flawless print product. The print shop needs a print-ready PDF to deliver the desired result to the customer without blurred areas, unwanted colour casts or white spots where there aren’t supposed to be any.<\/p>\n

If you comply with the specifications of the print shop and supply print-ready artwork, you are on the safe side as a customer and one step closer to getting perfect printings.<\/p>\n

Settings in the Export dialog box<\/h2>\n

If the design is ready to be exported, open the Export dialog box by pressing Ctrl<\/span> + E<\/span> (Mac users press Cmd<\/span>) or File > Export<\/span>.<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/p>\n

General<\/h3>\n

On the General<\/span> panel, select the PDF\/X-4:2010 standard. Acrobat 7 or PDF 1.6 is displayed as compatibility.<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/p>\n

Compression<\/h3>\n

The InDesign default settings at Compression<\/span> are sufficient in most cases. A setting of 300\u00a0dpi assures an excellent and vibrant print result provided that the original material is of a similar quality.<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/p>\n

Marks and bleeds<\/h3>\n

In the Marks and Bleeds<\/span> section, you should use the bleed settings of the document if these have already been set up correctly when creating the document. Our templates have the bleed included in the size of the canvas.<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/p>\n

Output<\/h3>\n

The settings at Output<\/span> are essential for the colour composition of your printed product by assuring a correct colour result. RGB images have to be converted to PDF in CMYK to be exported. Go to Color Conversion<\/span>, select the Convert to Destination (Preserve Numbers)<\/span>\u00a0option and define the “PSO Coated v3)” colour profile previously defined as the destination.<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/p>\n

If other colour profiles are needed \u2013 for uncoated paper, we recommend, e.g., “PSO Uncoated v3 FOGRA52” \u2013 you have to adjust the settings accordingly.<\/p>\n

Advanced<\/h3>\n

The PDF\/X-4:2010 PDF standard allows transparencies which you have included in your artwork. No further adjustments are necessary at\u00a0Advanced<\/span>, whereas for the PDF\/X-3:2002\u00a0standard you have to choose a high resolution for transparency reduction.<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/p>\n

Security<\/h3>\n

Skip the Security<\/span> tab. Never assign passwords for your PDF file, or else the document cannot be processed by the online printer.<\/p>\n

\"Screenshot<\/a><\/p>\n

Click Export<\/span> to finish the process. InDesign will create a print-ready PDF with the settings needed by the online print shop to deliver an optimal result.<\/p>\n

If you produce printed products on a regular basis, we recommend saving permanent PDF profiles. For information on how to do this, read the article Always available: saving PDF presets in InDesign<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When an online print shop asks you to supply “print-ready PDF files”, chances are you don’t have a clue what they are talking about. That’s not surprising since not everyone is fluent in print language. In this short tutorial, we will demonstrate the PDF export process in Adobe InDesign.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":13056,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,4],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nInDesign tutorial: Exporting print-ready PDFs<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Which settings are required when exporting PDF in InDesign? 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